The Tour de Sprawl 2004
The Best of Development, Redevelopment and Open Space in the Twin CitiesSeptember 18, 2004
Total Distance: 21.5 miles
START:
Duluth-Case Park — St. Paul, MNWe'll meet at a community park and learn about the innovative wetland reclamation & community revitalization project at nearby Phalen Crossing. From there, we'll ride past rejuvenated residential developments and along Lake Phalen's beautifully restored western shore to the birthplace of Maplewood, MN — the Gladstone neighborhood.
A — First Stop:
Gladstone Neighborhood — Maplewood, MNSee how this neighborhood has balanced transit, housing and business interests while working to revitalize this area. We'll pass one of the few traffic circles in the metro area before stopping to look at how local residents have worked with the City of Maplewood to protect the Gladstone Preserve. From there, we'll move on to the beautiful Gateway Trail, one of the best bike trails in the eastern metro area.
B — Second Stop:
Marsh 212 — North St. Paul & MaplewoodRide the Gateway trail past the North St. Paul Ecology Center & The World's Largest Snowman and exit through beautiful downtown North St. Paul. We'll pass the Cowern Community Orchard & Habitat Area on our way to the 60-acre Marsh 212 project, where local residents are partnering with the city and county to save this vital natural area from development. How have changes in local transportation policy affected adjacent open spaces? What can local residents do to make a difference? Find out here.
C — Third Stop (lunch):
Richard Walton Park — Oakdale, MNTraverse the heart of Oakdale to the Richard Walton Memorial Park, where we'll have a light lunch while learning about Oakdale's innovative Adopt-A-Wetland program. Along the way, we'll see examples of walkable community developments, life-cycle housing and open space preservation.
D — Fourth Stop:
Main Street — Lake Elmo, MNFrom urban landscape to rural vistas: we'll ride the farm fields and wide-open spaces of Lake Elmo and observe their plans to revitalize main street and the downtown area. With the recent Met Council ruling, how will Lake Elmo's efforts to preserve open space & rural character be modified? Who should have the say in local decisions: the Metropolitan Council or local communities? See how this debate has played out on the ground in Lake Elmo.
END:
The Fields of St. Croix — Lake Elmo, MNLastly, we'll ride east to Lake Elmo, home to innovative and controversial cluster developments & new-urbanist community designs. We'll see Lake Elmo's plans for newly designed main-street & a green belt through the community. We'll end with a visit to a pioneering cluster development to examine the debate between suburban open space preservation and the Met Council's goals for improved suburban density.
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